Potters' Prescott steps down

November 29, 2013

EAST LIVERPOOL - Rick Prescott is still going to be a fan of the East Liverpool football team, just not the head coach.

Prescott resigned his coaching position Tuesday after going 10-20 in his three seasons as the Potters' head coach.

"I have a beautiful wife and son, and I just look forward to spending more time with them," Prescott said. "It just gives me extra time to be with my family that I missed out."

Prescott gave no indication that he was going to resign when he made an appearance at the football banquet Monday night.

"I wanted to make sure this was the right time to do this," Prescott said. "I met with the athletic department on Tuesday and handed in the letter."

He also kept the team's 2014 season in mind in regards to the timing of his resignation.

"I also wanted to make sure the selection committee had plenty of time to decide on a new coach for the team," Prescott said. "I did this that way the team is good for the season and the kids will be ready to go."

The Potters went 5-5 this past season, winning their final four games.

Prescott was the only applicant for the coaching position in 2011 when he was hired as the successor to Mark Asher, who led the Potters to a playoff appearance in 2010 before leaving East Liverpool, also after three seasons, to fill the coaching vacancy at Struthers.

Prescott hasn't hinted at who would be considered to take over and also hasn't ruled out the possibility of another coaching tenure sometime.

"I'm definitely considering going back into coaching in the future," Prescott said, "I would love to coach again, but right now I just look forward to being with my family, and going to the games with my wife and son and cheering for the team in the stands."

Looking back on his three-year run with the Potters, Prescott remembers the hard work and dedication the team has put forth.

"It was a very warming experience," Prescott said. "The hardest part of this is missing working with the kids and the coaching staff each day and seeing how hard they work. Despite the ups and downs, this position has made me better myself as a person, and I appreciate everything the team has done, and thank them for their work."

Prescott will remain in his teaching position with the school district.

Before becoming a head coach, Prescott served as an assistant at East Liverpool in 2010 and 2006, at Wellsville in 2009 and at Beaver Local 2005.

Before his coaching career, the Beaver Local graduate was a first-team All-Ohioan and the Morning Journal's 1999 All-Area Lineman of the Year as he led the Beavers to their first-ever playoff appearance. His success continued in college as he was the starting center on Mount Union's 2003 NCAA Division III national championship team.